title: The effects of artemisinin on the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of artemisinin on the proliferation and apoptosis of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary rat VSMCs were treated with various doses of artemisinin. Cell proliferation was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and the messenger RNA and protein expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was measured using annexin V and propidium iodide double staining evaluated by flow cytometry. Protein expression of Bax, Bcl2, and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 was determined by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 72 h of treatment, artemisinin significantly inhibited VSMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 1 mM artemisinin for 72 h significantly reduced the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen messenger RNA. On the other hand, the same treatment increased the apoptosis of VSMCs, the activation of caspase-3, the Bax protein expression, and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that artemisinin can effectively inhibit VSMC proliferation and induce VSMC apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ren-Ping
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dong-Bo
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Hai-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Qing-Shan
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke-Shen
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ha-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C031327:artemisinin; C495903:Cdk4 protein, rat; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
keywords: apoptosis; artemisinin; cell proliferation; drug-eluting stent; vascular smooth muscle cell